Shanti Project

Shanti Project Shanti reduces isolation, enhances health and well-being, and improves quality of life.
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Founded in 1974 by Dr. Charlie Garfield at the UCSF Cancer Institute, Shanti was one of the first-ever volunteer organizations to work with terminally-ill individuals, and later became one of the very first community-based HIV/AIDS organizations in the world. Shanti has trained over 15,000 volunteers in the Bay Area and 600 organizations world-wide in the Shanti Model of Peer Support, and in the B

ay Area alone, Shanti volunteers have provided over 3 million hours of care-giving. Each year, Shanti works to enhance the quality of life, health, and well-being of people living with life-threatening and disabling illnesses, including cancer, HIV, and Hepatitis C Virus. Last year, we served over 2,100 vulnerable individuals who face some of life’s most difficult challenges, often in isolation, without compassionate or practical support. Thank you for joining us as we create a more compassionate future for all!

Faces of Pride is a collection of stories celebrating the LGBTQ+ clients, volunteers, and allies who make up the Shanti ...
06/01/2026

Faces of Pride is a collection of stories celebrating the LGBTQ+ clients, volunteers, and allies who make up the Shanti Project community. At the heart of each story is the power of connection—the belief that no one should have to navigate life's challenges alone—and the ways community, authenticity, and belonging help us carry one another through life's most difficult moments and greatest joys.

Our first Faces of Pride story features former Shanti volunteer John Emmons, who moved to San Francisco in 1985 feeling called to serve those living through the AIDS epidemic. Through Shanti, he was paired with two clients, Joe and Charles, who would become much more than volunteer assignments—they became friends, teachers, and part of the community that shaped his life.

One memory has stayed with him for nearly 40 years: attending Pride with Joe, surrounded by music, celebration, and a city bursting with color. While the crowds celebrated, Joe was quietly carrying the uncertainty of living with AIDS. In that moment, John saw what Pride meant for so many during that era—a chance to find joy, connection, and belonging even when the future felt unknown.

Joe and Charles both passed away in the early 1990s, but the lessons they left behind never did. John's story reminds us that Pride is not only about celebration. It is also about remembrance, resilience, and the people who choose to show up for one another when it matters most. 🌈

To learn more about Shanti Project, its programs and services, and ways to support our work, visit: https://www.shanti.org/

Photo captions (left to right): John Emmons, former Shanti Project volunteer who began serving clients in the 1980s and now lives in Oakland; Joe (top right) pictured with his partner, Mark, at a birthday celebration; Charles (bottom right) at a Pride celebration in San Francisco in the late 1980s, before his passing in 1991.

Mary K. spends most of her days at home, navigating isolation and anxiety—but she’s never alone. By her side is Sugar, h...
04/15/2026

Mary K. spends most of her days at home, navigating isolation and anxiety—but she’s never alone. By her side is Sugar, her 13-year-old white poodle and constant source of joy. When Mary talks about Sugar, her voice lights up. And when Sugar sees Mary, she jumps with pure excitement. Their bond is everything.

But without support, their story could look very different.

Because of limited mobility and financial resources, Mary wouldn’t be able to care for Sugar on her own—and Sugar, a senior dog with ongoing health needs, would be at risk of entering a shelter.

Through Shanti Project's PAWS program (Pets Are Wonderful Support), that outcome is prevented. PAWS ensures Sugar stays right where she belongs:
🐾 Nutritious food delivered each month
🐾 Daily walks from dedicated volunteers (and plenty of “sniff time”)
🐾 Coordinated veterinary care and transportation to appointments

Mary often says she wouldn’t be able to care for her “beautiful baby” without PAWS. Because of this support, Sugar is still at home—safe, loved, and thriving. And Mary isn’t facing life’s hardest moments alone.

This is what connection looks like.❤️😍. To find out more about Shanti Project's programs and services, go to: https://www.shanti.org/ . To support our programs and help ensure no one faces life’s most difficult moments alone, consider making a donation, becoming a monthly donor, or giving a matching gift: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

At the heart of equitable cancer care is something simple, yet powerful: being seen, heard, and understood.In March, Sha...
04/08/2026

At the heart of equitable cancer care is something simple, yet powerful: being seen, heard, and understood.

In March, Shanti Project’s Cancer Program was invited to present at the Blood Cancer United event at the Mexican Consulate of San Francisco to host a fully Spanish-language event dedicated to the Latin community—breaking down barriers and building pathways to care.

Led by Senior Care Navigator Maximiliana “Millie” Ruiz, the conversation centered on the real challenges people face after a cancer diagnosis: language barriers, financial stress, immigration concerns, and navigating a complex healthcare system. Through culturally relevant education and care navigation, the message was clear—no one should have to face cancer alone.

As Millie shared: “Events like this instill a sense of security and confidence—so people can face their diagnosis with greater strength, knowing they are not alone.”

And on the importance of language: “Understanding a diagnosis and treatment plan is essential… and what better way to do so than in your own language?”

When communities receive information in the language they speak—and support that reflects their lived experiences—we move closer to true health equity. Shanti Project is proud to stand alongside our partners and community members to ensure that care is accessible, compassionate, and culturally responsive.

To know more about Shanti's Cancer Program in addition to our other programs and services, click: https://www.shanti.org/

Shanti Projects Peer Support Volunteers are about walking alongside someone—and witnessing their whole journey. This is ...
02/05/2026

Shanti Projects Peer Support Volunteers are about walking alongside someone—and witnessing their whole journey. This is why peer support matters.

Dan moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s and found freedom through drag, friendship, and community—becoming Rita Real. One unforgettable Pride Parade in 1984 captured Rita’s joy forever: riding on the back of a motorcycle, laughing, alive, and radiant.

Then came the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Friends were lost. Life changed. And Rita slowly faded into memory. Years later, through Shanti’s Peer Support Navigation Program, Dan and his volunteer Jordan were visiting the GLBT Historical Society Museum when Dan suddenly stopped.

“Oh—there I am.”

On a postcard stand was Rita Real—forever preserved in San Francisco’s LGBTQ history. In that moment, Dan wasn’t just remembering the past. He was being seen. His joy, resilience, and legacy were affirmed. And Jordan was there to witness it with him.

This is the heart of Shanti’s work. Our Peer Support Volunteers show up for people facing terminal, life-threatening, or disabling illnesses—not just with resources, but with presence, compassion, and humanity.

Every life matters. Every story deserves to be honored.

If you feel called to walk alongside someone and be part of moments like this, learn more about becoming a Peer Support Volunteer:
👉 https://www.shanti.org/volunteer/ 😍

With just a few days left in 2025, we want to say thank you. Because of your support, people facing serious illness, agi...
12/30/2025

With just a few days left in 2025, we want to say thank you. Because of your support, people facing serious illness, aging, isolation, or loss are met with care, dignity, and community—never alone. Through Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), LAASN (LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Network), our HIV programs, and our Cancer Program, Shanti Project helps deepen human connection when it matters most.

As we look ahead to 2026, there’s still time to make a year-end gift before January 1. Your support ensures compassionate companionship, meaningful connection, and life-saving care continue into the new year.

💙 Make your year-end gift today: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

Thank you for believing in this work—and for helping create a future rooted in compassion and community 🥰🐶🦊❤️💚

Meet Harry Wong. Harry is a Shanti Project client and a proud participant in our LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Netw...
12/22/2025

Meet Harry Wong. Harry is a Shanti Project client and a proud participant in our LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Network (LAASN). He speaks openly about his disabilities—and how they’ve brought him closer to something powerful: community. “My disability has gotten me closer to community.”

Through LAASN, Harry finds connection, wellness, and belonging—and he gives it right back to San Francisco’s aging LGBTQ+ community. “What I have, I give away.”

In just two days, Harry turns 73 on December 24! 🎉 If you see him, please wish him a happy birthday and help us celebrate a life defined by generosity and care for others. This is what Shanti is all about: keeping people connected through the most difficult times in life.

💖 To support LAASN and Shanti’s other life-changing programs: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

No one should face life’s hardest moments alone. ❤️ Oshiro is a PAWS client who knows this deeply. While navigating food...
12/19/2025

No one should face life’s hardest moments alone. ❤️

Oshiro is a PAWS client who knows this deeply. While navigating food insecurity and caring for her uncle Donato during his cancer treatment, her dogs Perla (18) and Tulipan (3) are always by her side—at home, at appointments, everywhere. 🐶

Through Shanti Project’s PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) program, we help keep Oshiro and her family together by providing:
🐾 Monthly pet food and supplies
🐾 Free baths to keep her dogs healthy
🐾 A reliable stroller so her dogs can safely attend medical appointments

“Perla and Tulipan don’t just keep me company—they are family. We don’t feel alone when they are by our side.”

As the year comes to a close, your generosity ensures that people facing illness, caregiving, and isolation don’t have to choose between their wellbeing and the love of their pets. Thank you for being part of this compassionate community. To make an end-of-year gift, please click: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

Your New Year’s resolution doesn’t have to be about doing more.It can be about showing up.About listening. About being p...
12/17/2025

Your New Year’s resolution doesn’t have to be about doing more.
It can be about showing up.

About listening. About being present. About making a real difference in someone’s life.

Here’s how one Shanti volunteer describes the experience: "I hope to continue being a volunteer with Shanti as long as possible, it has changed my life for the better."

For over 50 years, Shanti Peer Support Volunteers have shown up for people facing life-threatening illness, isolation, disability, and aging—offering the kind of emotional and practical support you’d give a close friend or family member. If you’re looking for a meaningful, tangible way to change someone’s life (and your own), this is your moment. 💙

As a volunteer, you will: receive internationally recognized Shanti Model of Peer Support training, be matched 1-on-1 with a client for companionship, deep listening, and light practical support, and join a thoughtful, compassionate community of volunteers and staff

📍 Next In-Person Training
January 23–25, 2026**
Shanti Office | San Francisco

This immersive, mandatory training prepares you to support individuals who are isolated or living with life-threatening illness and disabilities—building powerful listening, communication, and relationship skills along the way. Volunteers consistently describe it as intensive, transformative, and deeply community-building.

⏰ Application deadline: January 19, 2026
👉 Apply here: https://www.tfaforms.com/4661943
👉 Learn more about our volunteer program: shanti.org/volunteer

✨ Start the year with intention.
✨ Say yes to service.
✨ Make a decision your future self will thank you for.

What does 42 years of service look like? For Harry Breaux, it looks like showing up—consistently, compassionately, and w...
12/15/2025

What does 42 years of service look like?

For Harry Breaux, it looks like showing up—consistently, compassionately, and without expectation of recognition. Harry has been a volunteer with the Shanti Project since 1983, supporting clients in our HIV programs and walking alongside individuals facing terminal, life-threatening, and disabling illnesses. His commitment embodies our mission: building a community where people feel seen, supported, and never alone.

When asked what he gains from being there for others, Harry put it simply: “I am healthy, happy, and wise.” As we close out 2025, your support makes stories like Harry’s possible. Donor generosity allows Shanti to train volunteers, provide care navigation, and deliver critical support services to those navigating some of life’s most challenging circumstances.

👉 Make an impact today: https://lnkd.in/gqQyzgrv
We are also recruiting the next generation of Peer Support Volunteers. Our upcoming training takes place January 23–25 in San Francisco, preparing volunteers to support individuals experiencing isolation, serious illness, and disability. Together, we can ensure that no one goes through life’s hardest moments alone. If you are interested in becoming a Shanti volunteer, start by filling out an application here: https://lnkd.in/gJP94JBf or visit shanti.org/volunteer

At Shanti Project, community is more than a value—it’s a lifeline. Through our Cancer Program, clients facing life-threa...
12/10/2025

At Shanti Project, community is more than a value—it’s a lifeline. Through our Cancer Program, clients facing life-threatening and disabling illnesses find connection, comfort, and hope in moments shared together across San Francisco.

Recently, our staff and clients explored the Japanese Tea Garden during a community walking group—one of the many ways we foster healing and belonging through movement and shared experiences. These walks help clients discover new corners of the city while building bonds that ease the isolation often felt during cancer treatment.

This week, our Spanish Health Chat/Support Group closed out the year with a warm and festive holiday gathering. Staff created a cozy space filled with ornaments, shared food, gift-giving, and the joy of being together. For many clients, this group is a vital source of emotional support and cultural connection.

As we approach the end of the year, we’re reminded how essential these moments are—for our clients, for their caregivers, and for our community. Your support makes this possible. ✨❤️ If you are able, please consider an end-of-year gift to Shanti Project and help us continue providing care navigation, compassion, and connection for San Franciscans living with cancer. https://www.shanti.org/donate/ 😇

Address

27 Maiden Lane
San Francisco, CA
94108

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14156744700

Website

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